Aurora police are investigating a website that claims it is raising money for victims of the Aurora theater shooting but may instead be raising money for schemers.

"This is something we're going to take very seriously," said Officer Frank Fania, a spokesman for the Aurora Police Department. "We will prosecute anyone we can who tries to take advantage of people after this unfortunate incident."

Fania declined to reveal what website was being investigated or the names of those behind it but said the detective conducting the investigation believes criminal charges likely will be filed.

Aurora began investigating the suspicious site after receiving tips from concerned individuals who noticed it on the Internet.

Enough concerns have been raised about other fundraising efforts that the Colorado Attorney General's office is looking into some sites it considers suspicious. In addition, a Facebook page devoted to Aurora shooting victims is no longer publicizing efforts by private parties seeking donations.

"We've seen a few small cases of suspicious behavior," said Laura Alier, an administrator for the Aurora Theater Shooting page on Facebook "There are two specific situations that we are talking to the cops about."

She said that there's only a limited cadre of volunteers associated with the Facebook page able to check the validity of fundraising efforts.

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Deputy Attorney General Jan Zavislan, who oversees a consumer-fraud hotline, said the attorney general's office has not received any consumer complaints regarding charitable fundraising for the Aurora theater shooting.

He said scams involving charities often go unreported because people usually make donations on the spur of the moment and don't check later to see how the money was used.

"People always take advantage of people's goodwill," Zavislan said. "The question is identifying it and finding it, and if we identify it, we prosecute it."

Because bogus charities usually go unreported, the attorney general's office is trying to be proactive and is reviewing some of the sites seeking donations for Aurora theater shooting victims and survivors. He asks that those who encounter suspicious activity call the Attorney General's hotline at 1-800-222-4444 or report activity online at
coloradoattorneygeneral.gov.

"We are looking at some solicitations that have raised our interest," he said. "But it's premature to talk about what those may be."

In another case, estranged members of the same family are accusing each other of improper fundraising.

This week, a caller to The Denver Post alleged a Facebook page seeking donations for Ashley Moser, who was seriously injured in the shooting that killed her daughter, was set up by an estranged family member who had no business raising money for Moser. The caller insisted that donations should be forwarded only to a special fund set up at Wells Fargo Bank or at helpash.org.

Two websites have sprung up to assist Farrah Soudani, 22, who was hit by shrapnel and underwent multiple surgeries that removed her spleen and a kidney. She also had to undergo a skin graft to repair a bullet wound to her left calf.

The first website soliciting donations for Soudani was set up at gofundme.com and is being managed by Victoria Albright, a friend of Soudani's mother, Heidi Soudani. The site stated it had raised nearly $170,000 by Thursday afternoon.

Meanwhile, those on Soudani's father's side have set up another website that has raised nearly $70,000.

Neither of those sites is the one under investigation by Aurora police.

Farrah's brother, Jordan Soudani, said that the site managed by Albright is also raising money for their mother.

"We just want all of the money raised for Farrah, and all of our concerns would be put to rest if a legal trust were put in place on their part that would state that Farrah would be the only beneficiary," Jordan Soudani said.

Albright said that although money raised on her website will also go to Heidi Soudani, there's nothing wrong with that.

"I tried working out something with them, but they are just trying to steamroll me and her mother," Albright said. "All this mother wants to do is take care of this little girl."

Suspicious charities

The Colorado Attorney General's office has asked those who encounter suspicious activity to call its hotline at 1-800-222-4444 or go to coloradoattorneygeneral.gov and click on the consumer link to report the activity.

Where to donate

Aurora Victim Relief: Established by Gov. John Hickenlooper in partnership with Arvada-based Community First Foundation, it has raised more than $3.7 million. givingfirst.org or 720-898-5900

Precautions

The Federal Trade Commission advises donors to :

Ask who wants money.

Ask for written information about the charity, including name, address and telephone number.

Be wary of charities that appear overnight in connection with events.

Watch out for charities that use names that closely resemble those of respected, legitimate organizations.

Avoid sending or giving cash donations. If you're thinking of giving online, look for indicators that the site is secure.

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